Huntly manager Gregg Carrol has resigned.
Carrol has been absent from Christie Park since being granted leave for personal reasons on November 3 with his assistant Mark Gray taking charge on a caretaker basis.
But the former Deveronvale and Buckie Thistle manager, who won the Highland League title twice with both clubs, will not be returning to the Black and Golds after tendering his resignation.
Chairman George Clark said: “Gregg’s reasons for resigning are private and personal and neither I nor the club will be making any further comment.
“I would like to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation for the tremendous work that Gregg has carried out here at the club. Few people outside myself know the amount of hours of work he has put in to revolutionise our clubs practises and youth development.
“I am sure he and indeed all of us would have preferred to see some better results along the way, but in my view that always has to be viewed in the context of the bigger picture of the club and he leaves us in a far healthier state than when he arrived.
“I also believe luck has deserted us at times this season, given he has at best been short of four first team regulars which has increased up to eight or nine at times through injury and work commitments.
“That would challenge any manager in any league in the world, let alone a modest Highland League club.I wish him all the very best for the future.”
Carrol, 44, was appointed manager at Huntly in February 2014 but has endured a difficult spell in charge at Christie Park.
Huntly ended the 2013-14 campaign in 13th place and dropped to 16th last term in Carrol’s first full season in charge, winning only five of 34 league matches
The club’s form has not improved so far in this campaign with Huntly in 16th place after winning just three of their opening 19 league games.
Gray is still looking for his first point in Carrol’s absence with the Black and Golds losing all three matches against Turriff United, Strathspey Thistle and Cove Rangers.
Huntly take a break from league duty this weekend when they face Lothian Thistle Huchison Vale in the third round of the Scottish Cup at Christie Park.